WO1991018319A1 - Film spool supply device for cinematographic projection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a film spool supply device for cinematographic projection apparatuses. The device is comprised of an unwinding station (3) and a take-up station (4) for a film being projected, an unwinding station (9) and a take-up station (8) for a film already projected, and means for displacement between the unwinding station of the film being projected and the take-up station of the film already projected on the one hand, and a film storage area on the other hand, a standby station (1) for a spool of film not yet projected, a standby station (6) for an empty spool, said means for displacement of the spools including means for displacement between the unwinding station of the film being projected and the take-up station of the film already projected, between the take-up station of the film being projected and the unwinding station of the film already projected, between the standby station of the film not yet projected and the unwinding station of the film being projected, and between the standby station of the empty spool and the take-up station of the film being projected.

Description

 Film reel supply device for a film projection apparatus.

The present invention relates to a device for supplying film reels for cinematographic projection apparatus.

Films shot in large width, for example on 70 mm film, and projected in horizontal scrolling at accelerated speed to avoid local heating, lead to very long lengths of film. The weight of a normal film of approximately one and a half hours of projection with its reel is then more than 100 kg.

The handling of such reels is therefore particularly difficult, it is now hardly possible to make frequent film changes. The invention aims to overcome this drawback and, on the contrary, allow the films to be projected to be changed quickly and easily.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a device for supplying film reels for a cinematographic projection device, characterized in that it comprises an unwinding station and a winding station for a film being projected. , an unwinding station and a winding station for a film already projected and means for moving reels between the film unwinding station during projection and the film winding station already projected on the one hand, and a film storage area on the other hand.

In a first embodiment, the device according to the invention further comprises a standby station for a reel of a film not yet projected, and a standby station for an empty reel, said means for moving reels comprising means of movement between the station for unwinding the film during projection and the station for winding up the film already projected, between the station for winding up the film during projection and the station for unwinding the film already projected, between the wire waiting station not yet projected and the film unwinding station during projection, and between the empty reel waiting station and the film winding station during projection. It is therefore possible to simultaneously project a film by passing it from the unwinding station to the film winding station during projection, rewinding an already projected film by passing it from the unwinding station to the film winding station already screened, and keep a film not yet screened pending. At the end of projection, the change is therefore rapid since it suffices to pass the reel which has just been emptied from the film unwinding station during projection to the winding station for the film already projected and the reel full of film winding station during projection at the film unwinding station already projected, then bring the new full reel from its standby station to the film unwinding station during projection and the empty reel from its station waiting at the film winding station during projection.

The arrangement according to the invention therefore makes it possible to very quickly change the reel in front of the projection head.

In the event that more than two reels are to be projected one after the other, a storage area can be provided next to the stand for waiting for the film not yet projected, any means such as a machine that can pass the film reels from this waiting station to the storage area and from the storage area to the waiting station.

In a particular embodiment of the device according to the invention, it comprises a first and a second transfer stations respectively between the waiting station for the film not yet projected and the station for unwinding the film during projection, and between the waiting station for the empty reel and the station for winding the film during projection. It can also include a third and a fourth transfer stations respectively between the first transfer station and the station for winding the film already projected and between the second transfer station and the station for unwinding the film already projected. It is understood under these conditions that the first and second transfer stations in fact constitute switches forming branches, towards the film winding station already projected between the waiting position for the film not yet projected and the unwinding station for the film being projected and, respectively, towards the film unwinding station already projected between the waiting station for the empty reel and the station film winding during projection.

Displacement means, for example comprising reel-carrying carriages mounted on rails, can then be provided between the first and the third transfer stations on the one hand and between the second and the fourth transfer stations on the other hand.

These displacement means may more particularly comprise motor means comprising an endless member such as a chain or a belt, mounted on at least two wheels, one of which is driving and carrying drive means capable of cooperating with means. corresponding gear mounted on the carriage.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the means of movement between the first and the third transfer station and, respectively, between the second and the fourth transfer station, comprise a rail-carrying carriage provided with support rails for supporting a reel carriage, said rail carriage itself being mounted on rails, movable from the first (respectively second) transfer station where its support rails are arranged in correspondence with, and between those of the waiting for the film not yet projected and those at the unwinding station ^for the film being projected (respectively in correspondence with, and between those at the waiting station for the empty reel and those at the winding station for the film being projected ) at the third (respectively at the fourth) transfer station where its support rails are arranged in correspondence with those of the winding station of the film already projected (respectively in correspondan this with those of the station of unfolding of the film already projected).

For a convenient relative arrangement of the different stations with respect to each other, it can be provided that the waiting station for the film not yet projected, the first transfer station and the station for unwinding the film during projection of first part, the film winding station during projection, the second transfer station and the waiting station for the empty reel of the second part, the third transfer station and the film winding station already projected from third part, the station for unrolling the film already projected and the fourth transfer station for the fourth part, are respectively aligned on four parallel lines between them, the first and third transfer stations, and respectively, the second and fourth transfer stations are finding opposite perpendicular to said parallel lines.

In the case where reel-carrying carriages are used, at least some of these may comprise a drive shaft arranged to mesh in a manner that can be disconnected with the output shaft of drive motors mounted at the two stations of winding of the film being projected and, respectively, of the film already projected.

It is thus not necessary to equip the carriages with winding motors, these motors being fixed at the two winding stations.

The carriages can further comprise two engagement means selectively connectable to one or the other of the drive means each mounted on a belt.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the film winding station during projection and the film unwinding station already projected are superimposed on two different levels, the film unwinding station during projection and the winding station of the film already projected being each located at one of these levels, the projection of a film and the rewinding of another film being carried out alternately at one and the other of these levels. In this case, said displacement means may comprise at least one frame, an endless band mounted on said frame and two retractable grippers, one of the grippers being arranged to bring a film reel from one of said unwinding stations of the film being projected and winding of the film already projected onto said endless strip and vice versa, and the other clamp being arranged to bring said reel of said endless strip to the storage area and vice versa. More particularly, each of said clamps can be mounted integral with an endless chain outside of said chain so as to make it retractable.

In an alternative embodiment, the device for supplying film reels for cinematographic projection apparatus is characterized in that it comprises at least two pairs of stations for film reels and means for transfer between storage means, and at least one station from each pair of stations, each pair of stations can be used for film projection and rewinding.

Two specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram illustrating the various stations of a device according to the invention,

- Figure 2 is a top view,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line IV-IV of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the winding and unwinding station according to a second embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6 is a top view of this second embodiment,

- Figure 7 is a side view,

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7,

- Figure 9 is a detail view, - Figure 10 is a top view of a third embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 11 is a sectional view along the line X-X in FIG. 10.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a station 1 for waiting for a film to be projected, a first transfer station 2, a station 3 for unwinding the film during projection, a station 4 for winding the film in progress projection station, a second transfer 5, a station 6 waiting for an empty reel, a third transfer station 7, a station 8 for winding an already projected film, a station 9 for unwinding this film, and a fourth transfer station 10 Posts 1 to 6 on the one hand and 7 to 10 on the other hand are aligned in two parallel rows, posts 2 and 7 and respectively 5 and 10 being opposite each other perpendicular to these two rows.

The stations 2 and 7 are connected by two rails 11 and the two stations 5 and 10 are connected by two rails 12. A carriage 13 is mounted on the rails 11 while a carriage 14 is mounted on the rails 12. The carriage 13 can therefore move from station 2 to station 7 and vice versa, while the carriage 14 can move from station 5 to station 10 and vice versa.

To this end, an endless belt 15 is mounted between the rails 11 between a driving pulley 16 and a tension pulley 17. The belt 11 carries a fork 18 in which is engaged a lug 19 integral with the carriage 13. Thus by driving in one way or the other the pulley 16, the carriage 13 is moved on the rails 11 between the stations 2 and 7. In the same way, a belt 20 disposed between the rails 12 makes it possible to move the carriage 14 between the stations 5 and 10.

The carriages 13 and 14 carry rail sections 21 and 22 respectively, which are aligned with rail sections 23 fixedly mounted on stations 1, 3, 4 and 6 when the carriages are at stations 2 and 5, and with sections of rail 24 fixedly mounted on stations 8 and 9 when the carriages are at stations 7 and 10.

Reel-carrying carriages 25, 26, 27 and 28 (shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 by the coils only, and not shown in FIG. 2) are placed on the two parallel tracks thus formed.

The carriage 26 carries, on the side of the stations 7 to 10, an arm 29 capable of engaging, when the carriage is a station 7, in a fork 30 carried by an endless belt 31, disposed laterally relative to the stations 7 to 10 By driving the belt 31 in one direction or the other, the carriage 26 can thus be moved from station 7 to station 8 and vice versa. On the other hand, the carriage 26 carries a balance 32 carrying two arms 33 and 34. Depending on the angular position of the balance 32 around its axis, the arm 33 engages in a fork 35 carried by a belt 36, or the arm 34 engages in a fork 37 carried, by a belt 38, when the carriage 26 is at station 2. The belts 36 and 38 are arranged laterally with respect to stations 1 to 3.

When the arm 33 is engaged in the fork 35, the carriage 26 can be moved between the stations 1 and 2 in one direction or the other depending on the direction in which the belt 6 is driven.

On the other hand, when the arm 34 is engaged in the fork 37, the carriage 26 is driven between the stations 2 and 3 in one direction or the other depending on the direction in which the belt 38 is driven.

The carriage 25 can be moved in the same way using the belts 31, 36 and 38 while the carriages 27 and 28 can also be moved in the same way between the stations

4, 5, 6, 9 and 10 using 31 ', 36' and 38 'belts. The stations 4 and 8 each further comprise a motor 39 with a vertical axis, the grooved output shaft 40 of which cooperates with a fitting 41 which can be moved axially using a control rod 42. When the fitting 41 is in the high position, it meshes with a drive shaft 43 of the reel-carrying carriages to cause the film to be wound on the reel mounted on the carriage.

In normal operation, a reel is mounted on a carriage at station 3 and another on a carriage at station 4. The film is unwound from the reel of station 3 to that of station 4 using the motor of this latter station, through the projector 44.

Simultaneously, a film already projected is transferred from a reel mounted on station 9 to a reel mounted on station 8 using the motor of the latter station.

When the film already projected has been completely rewound on station 8, the carriages 13 and 14 are brought to stations 7 and

10 respectively, so that the reel from station 8 is transferred to station 7, then to station 2, then to station 1, while the reel vacuum from station 9 is transferred successively to station 10, then to station 5, then to station 6.

When the film being projected is finished, i.e. wound on the reel of station 4, it is then transferred to station 5, then to station 6, then to station 9 while the reel is empty from the station 3 is transferred in the same way from station 2, then to station 7, then to station 8.

The full coil on standby at station 1 (or another full coil if it has been changed) is then brought to station 2 with the arm 33 of its carriage cooperating with the belt 36, then from station 2 to station 3 with its arm 34 cooperating with the belt

38, and the empty reel from station 6 is brought in the same way to station 4 where a new projection can be started while the previous film is rewound on station 8. In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 9, the two superimposed stations 50 and 51 are used alternately for winding a film during projection and for unwinding an already projected film.

Two other stations 52 and 53 offset relative to one another as well as with respect to stations 50 and 51 serve alternately for the unwinding of the film being projected and for winding the film already projected. For this purpose, they are respectively located on the same level as stations 50 and 51.

In the case shown in Figure 6, the film being projected on the projection head 54 is transferred from the station

52 at station 50, while another film already projected is rewound from station 51 to station 53.

This device also includes a storage area

55 for the film reels, and between this storage area and the winding stations, two transfer frames 56 and 57, the first of these frames being located opposite station 52 and at this station , and the second frame located opposite station 53 and at this station.

The two frames 56 and 57 have the function of transferring the full reels between the storage area 55 and the stations 52 and 53. The frame 57 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9.

This frame comprises two endless bands 58 and 59 mounted on drive rollers and transverse supports 60, the bands 58 and 59 being arranged longitudinally parallel to one another.

Rollers 61 make it possible to apply a coil 62 to these strips.

Furthermore, two endless chains 63, not shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, carry automatically controlled pliers 64 for gripping a coil.

The clips 64 are mounted outside the chain 63, so that when this chain is driven on suitable sprockets 65, the clips 64 automatically retract as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 9.

When it is desired to bring a reel from the storage area 55 to the unwinding station 53, this reel is brought in the extension of the frame 57 by any suitable means and then it is gripped by the clamp 64 'which pulls it on the strips without end 58, 59 until they are entrained by these bands. The clamp 64 'opens and disappears, thus allowing the coil to pass to the end of the strips 58, 59 where it comes to rest on the station 53.

The clamp 64 being in the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 9, its chain 63 is driven in the direction of the arrow FI, so that the clamp 64 comes to grip the coil to push it onto the tray of the station 53.

The centering axis 66 retracts to allow this movement, then rises so as to center the reel on its unwinding station. The movements are carried out in the opposite direction to bring a coil from one of the stations 52 or 53 to the storage area 55.

In a third exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, there is a storage room 90 superimposed with a projection room 91. The storage room 90 comprises means 92 for storing reels of films to be projected 82 to 87. The projection room 91 has two pairs of stations, 72 to 74 as well as 73 and 75. An opening 71 allows manipulating means 81 and 90, the transfer of film reels 82 to 87 to the first stations 72 or 73, pairs of stations in the projection room. Transfer means comprise for example a fork-shaped manipulator arm 89 moved around an axis 70 by motor means 81.

The manipulator arm 89 is capable of lowering a coil 76 through the opening 71 in the horizontal partition between the projection room 90 and the projection room 91.

An originality of the third variant embodiment of the device according to the present invention lies in the coupling in pairs of the stations which allows them to play both the role of projection station and of unwinding station. For example, the film to be projected is brought by the arm 89 to the station 72.

The film passes through a projection head, not shown, to be wound on the station 74.

During projection, the arm 89 brings the next reel to be projected onto a station 73. When the film present on the station 72 has been projected, the film of the station 73 is placed in the projection head, as well as on the extension 75 which is used to receive the projected film.

During the projection of the film present on station 73, the film is rewound from station 74 to station 72. Once the film has been rewound on station 72 the reel can be stored by the manipulator arm 89 in the room storage 90.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the positions 74 and 75 cannot be reached by the manipulator arm 89.

In the example illustrated, the positions 74, 72, 73 and 75 are aligned. It is of course another arrangement of the stations 74 and

75 for example arranged inside the circle 79, corresponding to the range of the manipulation arm 89 does not depart from the scope of the present invention.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the cinema is a projection cinema on a screen 78 of spherical shape. or spherical cap. In this case, the reference 79 corresponds to the low spherical cap of this type of projection room.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the projection room is equipped with windows 77, 80 allowing the public to see the ingenuity and elegance of the projection room.

It is understood that the present invention is not limited to the cinema comprising a spherical screen.

Various variants and modifications can of course be made to the above description without departing from the scope or the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1 - Device for supplying film reels for a film projection apparatus, characterized in that it comprises an unwinding station (3) and a winding station (4) for a film being projected, a station of unwinding (9) and a winding station (8) for a film already projected, and means of movement between the unwinding station of the film being projected and the winding station of the film already projected on the one hand , and a film storage area on the other hand, a standby station (1) for a reel of film which has not yet been projected, a standby station (6) for an empty reel, said reel moving means comprising means of movement between the station for unwinding the film during projection and the station for winding up the film already projected, between the station for winding up the film during projection and the station for unwinding the film already projected, between the film waiting station not yet screened and the e station for unwinding the film during projection, and between the stand for the empty reel and the station for winding the film during projection. 2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first (2) and a second (5) transfer stations respectively between the waiting station for the film not yet projected and the film unwinding station in during projection, and between the waiting station for the empty reel and the film winding station during projection. 3 - Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises a third (7) and a fourth (10) transfer stations respectively between the first transfer station and the winding station of the film already projected, and between the second transfer station and the unwinding station for the film already projected. 4 - Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises displacement means for coils between the first and the third transfer stations, and between the second and the fourth transfer stations. 5 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said displacement means include spool carriers (25, 28), mounted on rails (23, 24). 6 - device according to claim 5, characterized in that said displacement means further comprises motor means comprising an endless member (31, 31 ', 36, 36', 38, 38 ') such as a chain or a belt, mounted on at least two wheels, one of which is driving and carrying drive means (30, 35, 37) capable of cooperating with corresponding engagement means (29, 33, 34) mounted on the carriage . 7 - Device according to all of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the means of movement between the first and the third transfer stations and, respectively, between the second and fourth transfer stations comprise a rail carrier carriage ( 13) provided with support rails (21) for supporting a reel carriage, said rail carriage itself being mounted on rails (11), movable from the first (respectively second) transfer station where its rails support are arranged in correspondence with, and between those of the station for waiting for the film not yet projected and those of the station for unwinding the film during projection (respectively in correspondence with and between those of the station for waiting for the empty reel and those of the film winding station during projection), at the third (respectively at the fourth) transfer station where its rails are arranged in correspondence with those of the film winding station already planned é (respectively in correspondence with those of the station of unfolding of the film already projected). 8 - Device according to any one of claims 3, 4 and 7 characterized in that the waiting station for the film not yet screened, the first transfer station and the station for unwinding the film during the first screening part, the film winding station during projection, the second transfer station and waiting station for the empty reel of the second part, the third transfer station and the film winding station already projected from the third part , the unwinding station and the fourth transfer station of fourth share, are respectively aligned on four parallel lines between them, the first and third transfer stations and, respectively, the second and fourth transfer stations, located opposite each other perpendicular to said parallel lines. 9 - Device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that at least some of the reel-carrying carriages comprise a drive shaft (43) arranged to mesh in a manner that can be disconnected with the outlet shaft ( 10) of drive motors (39) mounted at the two winding stations, of film being projected and, respectively, of film already projected. 10 - Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the carriage comprises two engagement means (33, 34) selectively connectable to one or the other of the drive means (35, 37) each mounted on a belt (36, 38). 11 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the film winding station during projection and the film unwinding station already projected (50, 51) are superimposed on two different levels, the unwinding station of the film being projected and the winding station for the already projected film (52, 53) being each located at one of these levels, the projection of a film and the rewinding of another film being carried out alternately with one and the other of these levels. 12 - Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said displacement means comprise at least one frame (56, 57), an endless band (58, 59) mounted on said frame and two retractable clamps (64, 64 ' ), one of the clamps being arranged to bring a reel of film from one of said film unwinding stations during projection and winding of the film already projected to said endless strip and vice versa, and the other clamp being arranged to bring said reel of said endless belt to the storage area and vice versa. 13 - Device according to claim 12, characterized in that each of said clamps is mounted integral with an endless chain (63) outside of said chain. 14 - Device for supplying film reels for cinematographic projection apparatus, characterized in that it comprises at least two pairs (72,74; 73,75) of stations for film reels (82,83,84,85,86,87) and transfer means (89,81,70) between storage means (90,92), and at least one station (72,73) of each pair of stations, each pair of stations which can be used for showing a film and rewinding it. 15 - Device according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises a projection room (91), superimposed with a film storage room (90). 16 - Device according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises a manipulator arm (89) terminated by a fork, for gripping film reels and an opening (71), between the storage room (90) and the projection room (91) allowing the passage of the manipulator arm (89) and a film reel (76). 17 - Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the stations (72,73,74,75) are arranged in such a way that the manipulator arm (89) can only reach a single station (72,73) by pair of posts (72.75; 73.75).